Insults, exclamations, & phrases
- As easy as swallowing a minnow – A phrase used to indicate easiness of the task.[65]
- As much use as a dead fox – A (harsh) insult, meaning the recipient is useless.[66]
- Bat-blind – An insult to a cat's eyesight, similar to the phrase "as blind as a bat".[67]
- Bee-brain – A similar exclamation to "bees in your brain".[68]
- Bees in your brain – An exclamation meaning confusion or a cat not making sense. (i.e., You've got bees in your brain!)[69]
- Buzzardfood – Alternative of crowfood, used before the start of the Clans.[70]
- Chickfeed – Alternative of crowfood, used before the start of the Clans.[71]
- Cleanpaw – A scornful insult used for someone who sticks to the rules closely.[72]
- Clan-swapper – An insulting term used for cats who switch Clans.[73]
- Clan-swapping – An insulting term used for the action of switching Clans (same meaning as Clan-swapper).[74]
- Crowfood – A (harsh) insult comparing the recipient to rotting prey animals (as in I'll turn you into crowfood!), or suggesting that they eat it (as in crowfood-eater).[2]
- Doesn't matter a whisker/Doesn't catch so much as a whisker – An exclamation meaning the cat does not care, (i.e. it didn't matter a whisker that she didn't share their beliefs) similar to I don't give a mousetail. Or saying that a patrol didn't catch anything.[75]
- Dormouse – An expression or exclamation used against a cat who sleeps a lot.[76]
- Drypaw – A cat that dislikes getting wet, usually used in RiverClan.[77][78]
- Dungface – A harsh insult.[79]
- Like LionClan/TigerClan – An expression stating that a cat does something very fiercely or well.[80]
- Featherbrain – A term used by WindClan cats, equivalent to mouse-brain.[81]
- Fishface, fishfur or fish-breath – An insult used against RiverClan warriors.[82]
- Flea-brain – A (friendly, yet harsh) insult. The severity of the insult is almost always decided by tone. [83]
- Foxbreath – An insult used to compare the recipient's breath to that of a fox.[84]
- Fox-dung – A (harsh) insult comparing the recipient to fox feces. Also used as an exclamation. (as in That's fox-dung!)[85]
- Fox-hearted – An insult meaning cruel, cold-hearted, or evil (as in fox-hearted Twolegs).[86]
- Frog-dirt and Fish-guts – An exclamation used in RiverClan, has the same meaning as thistles and thorns.[87]
- Frog-dung – Same as fox-dung, except it's often used in RiverClan.[88]
- Furball – A (friendly, yet harsh) insult. The severity of the insult is almost always decided by tone.[89]
- Fuzz-brain – A (friendly, but harsh) insult. The severity of the insult is almost always decided by tone.[90]
- Gray-pelts - A derogatory term used against elders and senior warriors.[74]
- Great StarClan! – An exclamation used to signify extreme surprise or anger. Similar to Oh my god! in usage and to the fact that they both have mention of a higher force.[91]
- Hare-brain – An insult similar to mouse-brain.[92]
- Hare-dung – Used as an exclamation, similar to "mouse-dung". Somewhat like "Darn it!"[93]
- How in Silverpelt? – An exclamation used meaning "How in the world?"[94]
- I don't give a mousetail/They wouldn't give a mousetail – An exclamation meaning that the cat does not care. Another variation is I would ____ for a couple of mousetails, meaning that they are willing to do the inserted action for no real reward. Can also mean that a cat would be stingy enough not to share a mousetail.[95]
- I'd have shredded you into mousedust! – To gravely injure, rip to shreds. Similar to mousemeat. Used to intimidate others.[96]
- In all the stars - An exclamation of disbelief.[97]
- It's as dark as a fox's heart – A phrase used to describe darkness.[98]
- It's better to scare away a mouse than welcome a badger – An old nursery saying that means that it's better to scare away a friendly cat than welcome a not-so-friendly cat.[source?]
- Kill two prey with one blow – Meaning to solve two problems with one action or solution. Equivalent of "Kill two birds with one stone".[99]
- Load of fox-dung – Referring to something that is not true, a mass of lies. Somewhat similar to That's a load of badger droppings.[100]
- Load of thistledown - Referring to something that is not true, a mass of lies. A more light-hearted variant of load of fox-dung.[101]
- Make dirt – To use the bathroom, or the dirtplace in warrior terms.[102]
- May StarClan light your path/Banish all the fleas from your nest – A friendly term used to tell others they wish them well.[103]
- May the Sun warm your back and the fish leap into your paws – A blessing used in RiverClan used to wish good dreams or, in some instances, to say farewell to a dead cat.[104]
- May you find good hunting, swift-running, and shelter when you sleep – An ancient farewell used by all the Clans, to say goodbye to loved ones on their way to StarClan.[105]
- Minnow-brain – An insult that is friendly but harsh. A RiverClan version of mouse-brain.[106]
- Mouse-brain – A (friendly yet harsh) insult. The severity of the insult is almost always decided by tone.[107]
- Mouse-breath – A insult possibly used to intimidate someone.[108]
- Mouse-dung – A (somewhat harsh) insult comparing the recipient to mouse feces. Also used as an exclamation (as in Mouse-dung! That can't be right!). Somewhat like "Darn it!"[109]
- Mouse-hearted – An insult that describes one who is cowardly.[110]
- Mousefodder – An insult describing that the cat is worthless or a kittypet.[96]
- Once a kittypet, always a kittypet! – A harsh phrase used to describe a cat with kittypet roots.[111]
- (Only) StarClan knows (what) – Sometimes used to answer a question that is impossible to answer. Similar to "The only god knows what," "The only god knows," and "god knows."[112]
- One piece of prey in [one's] paws is worth two in a tree – A phrase of the same meaning as "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."[74]
- Pain in the tail – An insult meaning a cat is irritating or lazy.[113]
- Rabbit-brain – An insult that is friendly but harsh. A WindClan version of mouse-brain.[114]
- Rabbit-chasers – A less harsh insult used in ShadowClan to describe WindClan.[115]
- Scaredy-mouse! – A similar expression to "scaredy-cat", referring to a cat easily frightened.[116]
- Scaredy-sparrow – Same as the term "scaredy-mouse." [117]
- Smart-ears – A friendly insult.[118]
- Snake-heart(ed) – Similar to the term "fox-hearted," generally used by RiverClan.[119]
- Snake-tongue – An insult meaning cold or unfair; similar to "fox-hearted" or "snake-hearted", used by ShadowClan.[120]
- Sorry catches no prey or Sorry fills no bellies – Means cats can be sorry, but that it will not change the past.[121]
- StarClan's kits! – An exclamation of surprise or disbelief. Sometimes used as an exclamation if a cat is hurt.[122]
- Stirring up a bee's nest – A phrase meaning a cat is looking for trouble or starting it.[123]
- Sunshine and daisies – A phrase meaning the same as "sunshine and rainbows." [124]
- Squirrel-chasers - A phrase used to describe ThunderClan cats, used in RiverClan.[125]
- Tabbies don't change their stripes – Meaning that a cat doesn't change their nature. Equivalent to "a leopard can't change his spots."[126]
- Tail-licker – An insult intended for a cat who is sucking up, similar to the word bootlicker.[127]
- (That's a) load of badger droppings – A harsh exclamation saying that something is nonsense.[128]
- Thistles and thorns – Used to describe bad luck (as in: Thistles and thorns! I blew it!); similar to "Darn it" or "mouse-dung."[129]
- Toad-brain – Similar to mouse-brain.[130]
- Thundercat – Used by ShadowClan to describe a ThunderClan cat.[131]
- Weasel heart - A (harsh) insult, sometimes used to describe cats from other Clans.[132]
- We'll cross that river if we come to it – A phrase meaning the same as "we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."[133]
- What in StarClan's name? – An exclamation similar to "What on earth?" or "What in the world?"[134]
- When hedgehogs will fly – An exclamation style statement that shows disbelief that a certain event will likely occur (as in That will happen when hedgehogs fly), used in many variations. Somewhat like the human phrase, "When pigs fly!"[135]
- Who made dirt in their fresh kill/nest? – A phrase to describe a cranky or suddenly moody cat.[136]
- Who ruffled their fur? – A similar way of saying "who got under their skin?"[137]
- Wild rabbit hunt – A phrase of the same meaning as "wild goose chase."[138]
- Would've made mousemeat out of you! – To badly injure, rip to shreds. Similar to mousedust.[source?]
- You fight/hunt like a kittypet! – An expression used to insult or tease a cat who fights/hunts poorly.[139]
- (You're) crazier than a fox in a fit! – An insult used when a cat (or cats) are acting crazy. Another variation uses "madder" instead of "crazier."[140]